Harold (“Hal”) Stern, MD, a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon, educator, and longtime member of the New Haven medical community, passed away on May 24, 2026, at the age of 99.
Dr. Stern co-founded Thoracic and Cardiovascular Associates of New Haven with his Yale colleague Allan Toole, MD, and built a private practice serving patients across the region. He also held an appointment as associate professor of surgery at Yale School of Medicine in the section of cardiothoracic surgery.
A leader within the medical community, Dr. Stern served as president of the medical staff at Yale New Haven Hospital and was a founding member of the Yale Surgical Society. He was known for his clinical excellence, innovation, and unwavering commitment to patients, improving and extending the lives of thousands throughout his career. Among his contributions was the invention of the Stern Chest Tube Passer, developed to address an unmet surgical need.
Dr. Stern was also an outstanding educator and a central figure in the thoracic surgery community. As noted by Professor Emeritus Walter Longo, MD, “Dr. Stern demanded excellence and led by example. His New Haven practice provided significant operative experience for residents and fellows. He shared both surgical expertise and broad worldly knowledge with all who trained with him, and he brought energy and enthusiasm to the competitive spirit of sport.”
He is remembered as a gifted surgeon, dedicated teacher, and engaging colleague whose curiosity, candor, and generosity shaped those around him. Dr. Stern leaves a lasting legacy within Yale Surgery and the broader New Haven medical community.